Transportation policy is health policy. Transportation influences every aspect of health, from the ability to access jobs, education, health care, nutritious foods, physical activity, clean air, safety and more. Good transportation policy enables all people to have equal access to their community. Public transportation helps to reduce vehicle congestion in densely populated areas, and consequently, encourages non-motorized transportation as well.
Read at least the Executive Summary of this paper for background information on the link between transportation and health
As is the case with many public services, policy changes tend to have a disproportionate impact on the poor. This is especially true with transportation policy because personal automobiles are very expensive by comparison (around $6,000 per year for a small sedan in 2010).
Therefore, more people of low-SES tend to utilize public transportation options. When fares increase or services are reduced this has a direct impact on those that rely on this service – especially those with no alternatives (such as elderly and disabled individuals).
This is fairly well recognized (see TriMet’s equity policy ), but unfortunately, equity considerations are of low priority by decision makers. This is evidenced by the lip service paid to equity concerns while slashing the very services that are relied upon
Like many public agencies, the TriMet system is subject to a major budget shortfall.This problem comes from multiple sources: increasing labor costs, fuel price, maintaining service on an ever-expanding network, maintenance and et cetera. Details here:
This page fails to mention certain expensive elements, like adding new low-usage, high-cost lines such as the WES, which recovers only about 6% of its operating costs from fares
Our current plans (e.g. expanding infrastructure via Portland-Milwaukie MAX line, expanded streetcar loop, Bike Sharing) seem to be heading towards exacerbating such issues, unless a sustainable funding model is included in the plans.
Here is a great summary of the problems, short and long term, related to our current fare + payroll tax transportation funding plan, and how it’s going to get worse with our aging workforce:
In light of this information, the proposed solutions seem shortsighted, and they place an unfair burden on those who have no choice but to use the system (as is often the case in urban areas like Portland. Here are the outlined cuts:
Gauging from studies on why people use public transportation, aside from necessity, these cuts are likely to exacerbate the issue by driving down revenues from lost ridership because of the increased expense and decreased level of service. Here is a great read on the Economics of choice related to transit vs. automobile transportation (lays out the multiple, variable elasticities of transit types) (read the whole thing please).
1) Is transportation a human or civil right? Should equity be the top priority?
2) How should TriMet move forward?
a) You already read TriMet’s plan - (click to expand the links too)
(TriMet’s long term plan seems to be centered around turning the public against the transit workers’ union, and then looking for a legislative solution (optional)
b) OPAL suggests a fixed $2 fare, maintaining service levels, and allowing for a 4-hour transfer time would have a positive impact on health and be more equitable for the working-class families and communities of color.
c) Every few years, debate crops up in Portland about the possibility of eliminating fares and replacing them with a nominal fee (say $.50/boarding) and a per household fee. Corvallis’ Transit System recently adopted this model.
However, some studies suggest that Portland may be too large a city for this to work: (read at least the executive summary, but more if you can, it’s a good one)
d) What about a comprehensive transportation-funding plan for the area that accounts for the costs and advantages of various transportation types and adjusts the levels equitably? For example: parking fees, bicycle registration, transit fares, employer surcharges/taxes, gas tax, car registration fees, bridge tolls and et cetera. What would this type of system look like? Would it be politically possible?